Signal-box.



H. W. DOUGHTY & c. E. BEACH. SIGNAL BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED OOT. 16,1900.

%9,69. Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. DOUGHTY & G. E. BEACH.

SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED o0'r1s,1900.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. W. DOUGHTY & c. E. BEACH. SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1.16,1900. I

I Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

WITNESSES:

fxm

H. W. DOUGHTY & G. E. BEACH.

SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION 31mm 001'. 16, 1900.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES:

H. W. DOUGHTY &' 0. E. BEACH.-

SIGNAL BDX.

APPLICATION IILED 001:. 16,1900.

949,699 Patented Feb. 15,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ill

HERMAN W. DOUGHTY AND CLARENCE E. BEACH, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNORS TO STAR ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

sIGNAL-Box. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 16, 1 900.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 33,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'we, HERMAN W. Douon'rr and CLARENCE E. BEACH, residing at Binghamton, county of Broome, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Signal-Box, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates particularly to that class of signal boxes in which a transmitting mechanism is manually released or set in motion for the purpose of transmittin a preconcerted series of impulses over an e cotric circuit.

Our invention is particularly adapted for use on fire alarm and police telegraph systems, although our invention is also adapted for other uses, and certain features of our invention are adapted to man uses other than in connection with a signa box.

The objects of our invention are to provide a device more reliable in operation, more durable, and better able to resist such unfavorable influences as it may be subjected to than devices of the kind heretofore produced, and our further objects are to so simplify the mechanism that it may be readily understood and kept in order by those intrusted with its use, and so that it will require a minimum of attention and repairs, and such other objects as may be described a in the following specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In constructing our invention, we provide a motor .train arranged to drive the signal wheel in an ordinary manner, and while the usual brushes or pens may be used in connection with our invention, we prefer to employ two separably movable arms so engaging with the signal wheel that one of the arms will fall from any given tooth in advance of the other arm so as to cause relative movement between the two arms, which arms, for convenience, we will herein desig: nate as breaker arms. 7

We provide electrical contacts, preferably in theform of a blade and jaw similarato those used in so-called knife switches, mounting said contacts on the breaker arms, and

springs or other suitable means are employed to cause the movement of the respective breaker arms to be very prompt when the sup ort of a tooth of thesignal wheel is wit drawn from either of said arms. It is evident that the relation of these breaker arms and the signal wheel can be so varied as produce any desired change in the c1rcu1t controlled by the contacts carried by the breaker arms, so that when the projections of both arms are being supported by the signal wheel in the same plane, the aircuit may be held either open or closed as may be desired, and when one of the breaker arms is being supported upon the to or point of a tooth o the signal wheel an the other arm has dropped into a notch or depression between two teeth, the contacts carried by such breaker arms may. be arranged to respectively close or open the circuit and maintain such change in the circuit until the second arm has been allowed by the signal wheel to assume the same plane as the arm first disenga ed from the tooth. It is evident that with t is form of contact breaker a much greater and more uniform area of contact may be secured than is practical with any form of brushes or pens heretofore used, and the great additional advantage is obtained of having the action of the contacts instantaneous both in opening and closing the electric circuit irrespective of the speed of the signal wheel, besides obviating the necessity of removing all of the metal between the points of the successive teeth of an open type signal wheel, as has heretofore been necessary.

We realize that certain distinctive types of breakers have been heretofore provi ed which were arranged to either make or break the circuit more quickly than the usual type of contact pens, but such devices have not been arranged to make both a quick closure and a quick break in the same type of the device, nor to make either the closure or break as quick and positive as we provide with our invention, nor have they been of a type capable of being conveniently constructed to provide as large a break or air gap as may easily be provided with our invention, thus restricting the amount of electro-motive force which may be applied to any one circuit of signal boxes, as well as restricting the amount of inductive resistance, the current through which any one box may be-called upon to break.

While any of the usual and ordinary forms of controlling, releasing or o crating mechanism may be successfully use in connection with Your invention, we prefer that when the motor train is of the normally wound type, means shall be employed for a certain position, and so constructed that when said detent arm is moved in a direction tendin to disengage such pawl from the train, t e friction at the point of engagement between said pawl and the train will tend to hold them in contact. We further provide means tending continuall to move the detent arm to a position wiere it will cause the pawl to restrain the action of the train, means for supporting the de- Y tent arm in a position where the pawl may disengage the train, means for swinging the pawl on its axis when it is disengaged rom the train so that when the detent arm is sup orted by its prop said awl will be held in a position where it wi 1 not en age with the train, and means controlle by the train for withdrawing the support from the detent arm and allowing said arm to assume a position where the pawl may engage and restrain the train.

Where signal boxes are connected b a circuit which is exposed to the action 0 lightning or liable to come in contact with other circuits charged with a current or voltage liable to cause an excessive flow of current or breakdown in the insulation of such boxes, devices have been employed for protecting the mechanism of the signal boxes from such foreign current and voltage; these devices having shunts of low resistances around the box, also switches arranged to first shunt and then entirely disconnect the mechanism of the box from the circuit when the outside door of the box was closed, but the arrangements heretofore employed have been found defective or unsuited to the conditions existing in this class of service owing to one'or more of the following defects,-the closing of the outside door of the signal box can interrupt or prevent the transmission of a signal, or if this is overcome by preventing the door from being closed after being once opened, an added expense of construction and of application is involved, and the device may be defeated by a malicious person, besides the disadvantage of leaving the door open and subjecting the interior mechanism of the box to exposure to weather and the tampering of curious persons who wouldnot reo en the box if it had been closed-after sending the alarm. q

If a form of cutout is employed in which the action of the cutout resultlng from the action of the closing of the outer door willv be mechanically prevented if the transmitter mechanism be in operation when the outer door is closed, it is necessary to so construct the cutout that the power necessary to release it from such mechanical restraint will not be so great-as to seriously interfere with the action of the transmitter mechanism when eflecting such release, thus the force restrained must be comparatively weak with the result that either the certainty of contact or the certainty of action must be sacrificed, and such cutouts are both liable to fail to cut the box out if the door is closed during the transmission of a signal or to cut it in when the outer door is opened and thus permit the transmission of a slgnal, thus endangering the possible operation of the box. Such cutout devices have further had the serious defect that although the signaling mechanism could be disconnected from the outside circuit, the gap or insulation interposed could only be slight owing to the prmciple upon which such devices have heretofore been constructed, so that the protection from atmospheric electricity or foreign currents of high voltage was ineffectual. To overcome these defects and provide a system of protection which will be positive in operation and be mechanically and electrically durable, we prefer to employ in each signal box a cutout arranged to control the noninterference and bell magnets, said cutout being in turn operated by the outer door so that when the outer door is closed, said magnets will be disconnected from the outside clrcuit, and when the outer door is open, such magnets will be included in the outside circuit, but said cutout not in any way controlling the connection between the circuit and the breaker mechanism. We supply a separate and independent cutout controlling only the connections between outside circuit and breaker mechanism, said cutout being connected to a memberof the train, preferably the detent arm, and being so constructed that the ac tion of the detent arm in releasing the train will positively include the breaker mechanism in the outside circuit, and as long as the detent arm is in position to permit the action of the train to maintain such connection between the breaker and outside circuit, but as soon as the detent arm assumes a position where it may arrest the motion of the train, the breaker mechanism will be disconnected from the outside circuit. 1

To accomplish the foregoing, we provide two separate circuits or loops inside the signal box, in one of which are included to .control each of these circuits, such cutouts having the functions of a double polo, double throw switch arranged to close one set of contacts and shunt the outside line before breaking from the other set of contacts and disconnecting from' the local mechanism in the 'box. In constructing these cutouts, we prefer to employ a construction which Wlll provide a member of insulating, non-inflammable material of suitable size so arranged as to pass between the contacts communicating with the outside line and the contacts communicating with the signal mechanism of the local box when the box is cut out, thus materially adding to the clectro-static insulation between the outside line and the local wiring of the box.

In the type of signal box in which a normally wound train is manually released for the transmission of asignal, it is desirable to provide means whereby the mechanism will be prevented from commencing the transmission of a signal which it might be unable to complete owing to insufficient winding of the motor sprin To provide such protection, we employ a spring stop consisting of an intermittent pinion and sector, as in ordinary clock movement construction, the arrangement incidentally providing a winding limit for the spring and being ar 'anged to operate an electrical contact and thus form a shunt which will electrically prevent the mechanism from starting the transmission of an alarm after the motor spring has been unwound beyond a predetermined point, either preventing the tripping of the signal mechanism by providing a shunt around the non-interferonce magnet or closing a shunt around the breaker mechanism.

For testing the operative condition of our signal boxes both electrically and mechanically without the use of any extraneous device and without causing the transmission of any signal in the circuit in which the box may be included, we provide a switch so arranged that it may close a shunt around the entire mechanism of the signal box, said shunt including a resistance sufficiently great to cause enough current to pass through the box mechanism to operate the bell and non-interference magnets when the circuit through the breaker mechanism is closed, but such resistance not being great enough to diminish the fiow of current in the outside circuit sufiiciently to produce any false indication on any visible or audible indicating apparatus included in such circuit when the breaker mechanism is in open circuit position.

We realize that extraneous devices have heretofore been employed for testing signal boxes, also that a test has been provided in a signal by altering the normal path of current through the signalbox and placing the certain magnets in parallel with the balance of the mechanism in the boxes, but as these means heretofore employed have not been found to be reliable convenient nor. infallibly successful in disclosing defects in the electrical circuits of the signal boxes, we prefer to use our improved arrangement which overcomes the defects found in the arrangements heretofore employed.

For uses where it is desirable to provide a signal box with a glass guard for the key used in opening the outer door, we prefer to substitute-a lock capable of being operated by a knob in place of the ordinary door key, providing a suitable housing around such knob, a portion of which is formed of frangible material, which, upon being broken, permits access to the knob. We also prefer to use a slot passing through one of the edges of the casing surrounding the knob, together with a look so located with relation to the slot that when the bolt of the lock is thrown out, it will prevent the insertion or removal of the frangible material, this construction being more durable and less expensive in production than the forms of construction heretofore used.

In order that ourinvention may be better understood We show in the drawings ann'exed to and forming part of this specification a form of signal box embodying the various features of our invention, but we do not limit ourselves to the construction shown as it is evident that the features of our invention are suitable to be applied to various other forms of'signal boxes either separately or in combination with each other, nor do we limit ourselves to the construction or designs of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described as same are given merely for the clearer illustration-of our invention, and many changes in construction and arrangement and insertion or omission of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

In the drawings forming part of this specification in which like numerals of ref-' erence denote the same parts throughout, Figure 1 represents complete transmitter mechanism. Fig. 2 represents circuit breaker in closed circuit position. Fig. 3 represents circuit breaker in open circuit position. Fig. t represents a perspective view of restoring plunger. Fig. 5 represents elevation of transmitter mechanism with front plate removed. Fig. 6 represents perspective view of cutout with walls transparent. Fig. 7 represents sectional View ofcutout taken in a vertical plane passing through terminal 63 and 64. Fig. 8 represents diagrammatic view of electrical connections between various parts of device when at rest and with outside door closed. Fig. 9 represents diagrammatic view of electrical connections between various parts of device when in action with outside door open.

Fig. represents front elevationof key enable the housing. Fig. 11 represents sectional view on line X X of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 represents lan of noninterference armature restoring device. Figs. '13 and 14 represent portions of releasing mechanism for transmitter mechanism. Fig. 15 represents diagrammatic view of the electrical connections between the various parts when noninterference magnet is not used.

In Fig. 1; 1 represents the back plate, 2 represents the front plate, 3 is the noninterference magnet which is suitably supported by the back plate 1, 4 is the armature of noninterference magnet which is suitably supported on the pivoted carrier 5. The retracting spring 6 (see Fig. 5) is so applied to the armature carrier 5 as to tend to withdraw the armature 4 from the range of influence of the magnet 3. 7 is the restoring spring for the noninterference armature which forms a yielding connection between said armature and the restoring pin 8 carried by the lunger 9, said restoring spring 7 being provided with two faces, one of WhlCll forms an an le to the other (see also Fig. 12). The p unger 9 is arranged to move freely in the hollow post 12, through a suitable slot'or openin 12 in which projects the restoring pin 8 see Fig. 4), the slot 12' being of such length and location as will lunger 9 to assume a position where the pm 8 will not so engage with the restoring sprin 7 as to revent the armature 4 being withdrawn rom the range of influence of the magnet 3 (see dotted lines Fig. 12). The slot 12 is of sufficient length to permit the restoring pin 8 to travel a considerable distance along a face of the spring 7 which is parallel to the line of travel of the pin 8, for the purpose of preventing the armature 4 from bemg withdrawn from the range of attraction of the magnet 3 when the plunger 9 has been depressed as far as it will go, 1n order to give'such cutout as may control the magnet 3 a full opportunity to energize such magnet when the outside door of the signal box is opened, as will be well understood by those skilled in the construction of signal boxes. Attached to the armature carrler 5 is the rod 13 upon which the connecting block 14 may freely slide. The actuating block 15 is mounted. on the detent arm 16 at such point that when the armature 4 is against the magnet 3, should the block 14 be moved along the rod 13 in the direction of the armature carrier 5, said connecting block 14 will engage with the actuating block 15 and thus raise the detent arm 16. The hook lever 17 is pivoted in the bracket 18 and passes through the front plate 2 of the mechanism. The hook lever 17 is so located that it may move the connecting block 14 along the rod 13 in the direction of the armature carrier 5 when the armature 4 is in lever 17 will not engage with the connecting block 14 when said connecting block an parts moving therewith are in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig.5 where the armature 4 is out of the range of attraction of the magnet 3. The detent arm 16 may be provided with a detent pin 19 as shown in ig. 5, said detent in being arranged to suitably engage with t e stop pin 31 carried by the signal wheel gear 30. A supporting pin 23 is mounted upon the detent arm 16 in suitable relation to the pivoted prop 24, so that when the prop 24 1s under the pin 23 the detent pin 19 will be out of the path of the stop pm 31, but said prop 24 must not fail to engage with and support the pin 23 whenever the arm 16 has been raised to the position (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5) where the pin 19 is just disengaged from .the stop pin 31.

Suitably connected to the prop 24 are mounted the tracks 25 and 26, the tripping track 25 being so arranged with relatlon to the tripping pin 32 that when said track 25 is in its normal position it will not lie in the path of the pm 32, but when said track 25 has been moved to a position where it lies within the path of the pin 32 said track 25 may be so influenced by the engagement of the pin 32 as to withdraw the prop 24 from the path of the supporting pin 23. The raising pins 27 are carried by the main wheel 28 and are so located with relation to the raising track 26 and the ratio of the gearing between the main wheel 28 and signal wheel gear 30 that after the si al wheel gear 30 has made a predetermlned number of revolutions without the tripping track 25 being brought within the path of the tripping pin 32, one of the raising pins 27 will engage with and so influence the raising track 26 as to bring the tripping track 25 within the path of the tripping pin 32 which may then so influence said track 25 as to withdraw the prop 24 from the path of the supporting pin 23 and thus permit the detent arm 16 to fall to a position where the detent pin 19 will lie in the path of the stop pin 31. The length of the raising track 26 is so proportioned to the relative travel of the pins 27 and 32 that .after one of the raising pins 27 has moved the raising track 26 to a position where the trip- .ping track 25 lies in the path of the tripping moved into the path of the stop pin 31. The

through which the signals. The signal wheel 44 is mounted to stop 40, that the s unt will not be prodrawn from the path of the supporting pin 23 until the signal wheel gear 30 has arrived at a point in its movement wh ch precedes, by a very small space, the point at which the movement of said gear 30 Wlll be interrupted should the detent pm 19 be length of the tripping track 25 is such that after the tripping pin 32 has so influenced said track 25 as to permit the detent pm 19 to be brought within the path of the stop pin 31, the movement of the signal wheel gear 30 will withdraw the tripping pm 32 from enga ement with the tri ping track 25 before tliemovement of sai gear 30 is arrested by the engagementof the pins 19 and 31'.

The motor mechanism consists of the mam wheel 28, intermediate ear 29, signal wheel gear 30, escapement w eel 33, escapementpallets 34 and pendulum 35. The main wheel 28 is driven by the motor sprmfgt 36, which is connected to the wind sha 37 energy of said motor spring 36 is transmitted to the main wheel 28. Upon the wind shaft 37 we mount the collar 38 carrying the stop tooth 39 which is arranged to suitably engage'with and operate the sprin stop 40, said spring stop 40 being arrange to prevent the overwinding of the motor spring .36. The spring stop 40 carries the insulated pin 41, and the shunt springs 42 are so located with reference to the travel of the pin 41 that when the spring stop 40 has been moved to a predetermined point by the unwinding of the motor spring 36, the pin 41 will electrically connect the shunt springs 42. The shunt springs 42 are mounted on the insulating block 43 and are arranged to form a shunt around the terminals of the magnet 3 b means of the circuit 111 (see Figs. 8 an 9) whenever the motor spring 36 has'been unwound to a point where the continued operation of the motor mechanism is not considered positive. In boxes not provided with a non-interference mechanism said shunt springs 42, should control a shunt around the breaker contacts 47 and 50 consisting of the lines 109 (see Fig. 15), in which case it would be very important to so proportion the earing between the si al wheel 44 am: the

duced at a time when it will interrupt a signal or round of the box, being referably so arranged that said shunt will be formed during the pause between rounds or between rotate with the si al wheel gear 30, said signal wheel 44 being provided with a plura ity of projections arranged in groups characteristic of the signal to be transmitted, as in ordinary signal box construction. The upper contact breaker arm 45 is provided the projection 46 with a projection 46 arranged to engage with the teeth carried by the signal wheel 44; so as to cause arm 45 to be raised each time one of the teeth is brought into engagement with said projection 46 and so that the arm 45 will be permitted to fall each time the en agement ceases between one of the teeth of the signal wheel 44 and said projection 46. The lower contact breaker arm 48 is provided with the projection 49 which is arranged to be operated bythe teeth of the signal wheel 44 in the same manner as except that the projection 49 is so arranged with. relation to the projection 46 that, when-the signal Wheel 44 is in motion, the support of any iven tooth will be withdrawn from the pro ection '46 a predetermined period of time before the support of such tooth is withdrawn from the projection 49. A. tooth of the signal Wheel 44 should not cause said projection 49 to raise the arm 48 prior to or more rapidly than such tooth will cause the projection 46 to raise'the arm 45. The arms 45 and 48 are pivotedupon the stud 52 and are so influenced by the springs 51 as to tend to hold the projections 46 and 49 against the face of the signal wheel 44. The circuit breaker contactjaw 47 is carried by the upper contact breaker arm 45 and the circuit breaker contact blade 50 is carried by the arm 48, said jaw and blade'being insu a arms which carry them and suitably connected to the circuit in which the signal is to be transmitted. The circuit breaker jaw 47 and blade 50 are so proportioned with relation to the projections 46 and 49 that said jaw and blade will be brought into contact whenever the projection 46 is disengaged by a tooth of the signal wheel 44 and said contact will be broken when such tooth disengages from the projection 49, after which said jaw 47 and blade 50 will remain out of contact until another tooth of the signal wheel 44 has raised both the projections 46 and 49 and then ermitted the projection 46 to fall while stfil supporting projection 49. It is evident that the separation between the jaw 47' and blade 50 may be increased to such extent as may be found necessary for any special service provided that the depressions following the teeth of the signal Wheel 44-be made correspondingly deeper, so that said blade and jaw may still be brought into contact whenever the projection 46 has fallen into a depression following a tooth of the signal wheel 44 andthe projection 49 is still being supported by such tooth.

In Figs. 13 and 14 we show the details of an improved arrangement for use in the place of the detent pin 19. Our improvement consists in providing a movable pawl or projection 19, pivoted at stud 20, and having limiting pin 21 arranged to restrict its movement. The spring 22 is so applied ted from the to said pawl as to tend to cause itto assume the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 14, nflwhich position the pawl normally stands; When the detent arm 16 is moved in the direction tending to disengage the free end of the awl 19 from the stop pin 31, the friction etween said pawl and pin may be raised to a point somewhat above that at which it will be supported, by the engagement of the prop 24 and supporting pin 23, before the pawl 19 is disengaged from the stop pin 31 as the action of the spring 22 will move the pawl 19 a suflicient distance out of the path of the stop pin 31 after the pawl has been disengaged from said stop-pin so that when the detent arm 16 is allowed to fall until the supporting pin 23 rests upon the prop 24, the pawl will not be brought into the path of the stop pin 31. y

- The cutout shown in Figs. 6 and 7 consists of the outside or frame plates 60 and 60' to which the insulating blocks 61 and 61 are rigidly attached. Between the opposing faces of the blocks 61 and 61, the block 62 is arranged to freely slide. In the outside block 61 are mounted the outside line terminals 6.3 and in the outside block 61 are mounted the inside or local line terminals 64. The line terminals 63 and 64 end in the opposing faces of the blocks 61 and 61, said terminals, being preferably soarranged that each of the terminals 63 will be o posite one of the terminals 64. The sli ing block62 is arranged to carry the contact plate 65 which is so constructed that it will provide an electrical connection between the terminals 63 while the block 62 is moving through a portion of its travel. Suitable springs 66 are provided to insure a good contact between the plate 65 and the terminals 63. The sliding block 62 also carries the four contact plates 67 which are electrically connected in pairs and arranged to provide separate electrical connection between each of the terminals 63 and the corresponding terminals 64. Said contact plates 67 are so located in the sliding block 62 that'they will connect with their respective terminals at a point in the travel of the block 62 prior to that at which the contact plate 65 will cease to connect the terminals 63, and said contact plates 67 will continue to connect also-be used to electrically connect the plates 67 inpairs.

When the movable block 62 is to be positively operated in a direction which will cause the plate 65 to be withdrawn from its terminals and the plates 67 toconnect with .their-respective terminals, We provide the spring 69 arranged as shown in Fi 6'and tending to move the sliding bloc 62 to the position where the contact plates 67 will be disengaged from their respective terminals, but where the block 62 is to be moved positively in the opposite direction (as for instance when operated by the outside door of signal box) we omit the spring 69 and replace it with the spring 69 shown in Fig. 7,-the tendency of said spring 69 being to move the sliding block 62 to a position where the contact plate 65 will be disconnected fromthe terminals 63. We supply the actuating rod 70 .which is positively connected to the sliding block 62 and in the case of the cutout used to protect the signal pens this rod 70 connects with the free end of the detent arm 16 (see Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9). When however the cutout is to be operated by outside door of signal box, the actuating rod 70 is preferably terminated by a plunger head 71, as shown in Fig. 7 and also shown on cutouts 107 on Figs. 8 and 9.

Besides the transmitter mechanism and absolute cutouts already described we include in the signal boxes various other de vices shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, in which figures are also shown, the electrical connections between the various parts of our invention. The tapper bell 101, signal key 102, and plug switchboard 103 are of ordinary construction and as they are well understood by those skilled in the construction of signal boxes we will not describe their construction.

The resistance 104 is connected by the circuit 112 through the switch 105 to thze'line plates of the plug cutout 103; the switch 105 is normally open and the resistance 104 is sufficiently great to divert a sufficient portion of the current passing in the outside lines 113 through the circuit 108 to properly operate the noninterference magnet 3 and magnet of tapper bell 101.

The cutout shown at 106 Figs. 8 and 9 is preferably of the type shown in Fig. 6,

Y but may be of any other form, or merely arranged to produce a' shunt without breaking the circuit without departing from the spirit of our invention. The terminals 63 ceases 108, and the terminals 64 of said cutout are connected through 'the circuit 109'to the jaw 47 and blade 50 of transmitter mechanism, the actuating rod of the cutout 106 is so connected to the detent arm 16 that when said detent arm is in the position shown in Fig. 8 where it would be in position to restrain the signal wheel gear 30, the terminals 63 are short circuited and the terminals 64 are entirely disconnected from the terminals 63; but. when the detent arm 16 is in the position shown in Fig. 9 with the supporting pin above the face of the prop 24 and when the stop pm of -the signal wheel gear 30 would not be restralned said cutout will remove the shunt from connecting the terminals Y63. and include: the

circuit 109 in the circuit 108. The cutout 107 is arranged to be operated by the engagement of the operating pin 83 carried by the outside door 81 with the plunger head 71 and the terminals 63 of said cutout are connected to the circuit 108 and the terminals 64 are connected to the circuit 110, said cutout being so arranged that when the outside door of box is closed it will assume the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, where the terminals 63 are shunted and the terminals 64 are entirely disconnected therefrom. p I

In Fig. 9 we "show a diagrammatic representation of cutout 107 in the position it would assume when outside door of signal box was open, under which condition the shunt across the terminals 63 is removed and the circuit 110 included in the circuit 108. The lines 113 represent the outside lines leading into the signal box and connecting with the plug cutout. The circuit 108 runs from the signal key 102, through the terminals 63 of the cutout 106, through the terminals 63 of cutout 107, to the opposite side of plug cutout 103. The circuit 109 extends from the terminals 64 of cutout 106 to the blade 50 and jaw 47 respectively of the transmitter mechanism. The circuit 110 includes both the magnets of t apper 101 and the noninterfe'rence magnet 3, said circuit being connected to the terminals 64 of the cutout 107. The circuit 111 connects the shunt springs 42 with the terminals of the noninterference magnet 3.

The operating pin 82 mounted upon the door 81 (see Figs. 8 and 9) is arranged to suitably engage with the plunger head 11 of the noninterference mechanism. The oper ating pins 82 and 83 are so proportioned that when the outside door of box is closed the pin 82 will engage with'the lunger head 11 and cause the restoring pin 8 to maintain the armature 4 against the magnet 3 while the door must still travel a considerable distance before the operating pin 83 vwill commence to operate the cutout 107 with the result that when the outside door of signal box is again opened cutout 107 will include the magnet 3 of noninterference mechanism in the circuit 108 at a point in the movement ofthe door 81 where it will have some distance to travel before the restoring pin 8 will be withdrawnto a point which will permit the armature 4 to leave contact with the magnet' 3. a

In constructing the improved key or knob guard shown in Figs. 10 and 11, we prefer to employ the knob 85 in place of key heretofore fused. Around this knob we provide the housing 86 in which is the opening 87 .through which the knob 85 may be operated,

a suitable frangible plate 88 is arranged to cover the opening 87 being held in place over said opening by the lugs 89. A suitable lock 84 is provided for latching the door 81, said lock being constructed in an ordinary manner and so connected with the knob 85 that by turning said knob 85, the lock 84 will be so operated as to permit the door 81 to be opened. A slot or opening is provided in the bottom of the housing for inserting the plates of frangible material. The lock 90 is so situated with reference to the slot 92 that when the bolt 91 of said lock is extended it will prevent the withdrawal of the plate of frangible material unless same is broken,

however as the bolt 91 occupies but a small portion of the slot 92, when the frangible plate 88 has been fractured, the pieces will have an opportunity to fall through the slot 92 and thus permit ready access to the knob 85.

The operation of our invention is as follows :Referring to Fig. 8, when the outside door of signal box is closed and the operating pin 82 is holding the plunger head 11 and parts moving therewith in the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 12, the armature 4 is supported within the range of influence of the magnet 3 and the operating pin 83 so influences the cutout 107 as to bring it to the'position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, and the detent arm 18 not being supported by the prop 24 has so responded to thetendency of the spring 69 of the cutout 108 as to assume the position shown in Fig. 8. The course of the current through the signal box from the outside lines 113 would now be as follows: through the signal key 102 and line 108 to one of the terminals 63 of cutout 106, through the contact plate 65 of said cutout to the other terminal 63 from thence through line 108 to one of the terminals 63 of cutout 107, through contact plate 65 of said cutoutto the other terminal 63, thence through line 108 to other side of line 113. If now the outside door of signal box is opened, the movement of said door will first withdraw the operating pin 83 sufficiently to permit the cutout 107' to respond to the tendency of the spring 69' and tion of the magnet 3. The course of the current from outside line 113 through the signal box would now be as follows: from one side of line 113 through one side of plug switchboard 103, signal key 102, line- 108 to one of the terminals 63 of cutout 106, thence through contact plate 65 to the other terminal 63 of said cutout, thence through line 108 to one of the terminals 63 of cutout 107, thence through a pair of contact plates 67 to one of the terminals 64 of said cutout, thence through line 110 to magnet of tapper 101, thence through line 110 to noninterference magnet 3. If now the contact pin 41 is not connecting the shunt springs 42, the line 111' will be open and the circuit will pass through noninterference magnet 3, thence through line 110 to the other terminal 64 of cutout 107, thence through the other pair of contact plates 67 to the other terminal 63 of said cutout 107 thence through line 108 and the other side of plug switchboard 103 to the other side of line 113. If at the time that the outside door of the signal box was opened, a suitable current was passing in the outside line 113 the noninterference magnet 3 and magnet of tapper 101 would be energized and the armature 4 would be held by said magnet 3 against the tension of the spring 6.

We will consider that the motor spring 36 is sufiiciently wound so that the contact pin 41 does not connect the shunt springs 42,

and the detentarm 16 is in the pos1t1on shown by solid lines in Fig. 5, and the stop pin 31 is in engagement with the detent pin 19', and the signal wheel 44 is in the position shown in Fi 1 Where the first tooth of said signal whee is in a position just out of engagement with the projection 46 but still supporting the projection 49 thus maintaining the blade 50 and jaw 47 in contact, and the noninterference magnet 3 is energized and is supporting the armature 4 in the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 5 which will bring the connecting block 14 between the end of the hook lever 17 and the actuating block 15. Ifnow the outside end of the hook lever 17 should be depressed, the opposite end of said lever will engage with the connecting block 14 which will be slid along the rod 13. In its movement the block 14 will engage with the actuating block 15 and thus raise the detent arm 16 to a oint where the detent pin 19 will be withdiawn from the path of the stop pin 31 carried by the signal wheel gear 30, and when the detent arm 16 has arrived at this point, the prop 24 will assume a position in I into the path of the stop pin 31. The movement of the detent arm 16 would be tranmitted to the cutout 106 and cause said cutout to assume a position shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. and contact blade 50 and jaw 47 would be included in the circuit 108. The course of the current from the outside lines 113 would now be, through one side of plug switchboard 103, through signal key 102 and line 108 to one of the terminals 63 of the cutout 106, thence through a pair of the contact plates 67 to one of the terminals 64 of said cutout 106, thence through line 109 to'contact blade 50, thence through jaw 47 and line 109 to the other terminal 64 of cutout 106, thence through the other pair of contact plates 67 to the other terminal 63 of said cutout 106, thence through line 108 through one of the terminals '63 of cutout 107, through one pair of the contact plates 67 to one of the terminals 64 of said cutout 107, thence through line 110, through magnet of tapper 101 and noninterference ma net 3 to the other terminal 64 of cutout 10%, thence through the other pair of contact plates 67 to the other terminal 63 of said cutout 107, thence through line 108 and other side of lu of outside line 113. When the detent pin 19 was withdrawn from the path of the stop pin 31 the train of gearing driven by the motor spring 36 was permitted to re spond to the tension of said motor spring,"

9 in which the lines 109 switchboard 103 to other side? is out of engagement with the jaw 47, such movement of the arm 48 being instantaneous. As the signal wheel 44 continues its movement, other teeth will be successively brought into engagement with the projections 48 and 49, and thus raise the arms 45 and 48 without materially altering the relative positions of the blade 50 and jaw 47 until the support of such teeth is withdrawn from the projection 46, when the arm 45 will be permitted to respond to the tension of the one of the springs 51 connected thereto, and thus move the jaw 47 in contact w1th the blade 50. The continued operation of.

the signal wheel 44 will thus cause the jaw 47 and blade 50 to'snap into' contact and then snap apart again-as each of the respective teeth of the signal wheel leave engagement with one and-the other of thef projections 40 and 49. When the circuitv through the signal box was interrupted the action of the blade 50 after the first tooth had disengaged the projection 40. the: magnet 3 ceased to attract the armature 4 thus permitting the tension of the spring (3 to witlulraw said armature 4 from the range of attraction of the magnet 3, and thus withdraw the connecting block 14 from the path of the hook lever 17, but the subsequent closures of the circuit would not cause said armature 4 to be sufliciently attracted by the magnet 3 to overcome the tension of the spring 6.

The action of the closures and breaks in the electric circuit upon the tapper bell 101 and the results which said closures and breaks are intended to produce in the outside line 113 are so well understood by those skilled in the construction of signal boxes that we will not describe them here.

\Vhen the signal wheel 44 has been rotated a predetermined number raising pins 27 carried by the main wheel "2% will engage with the raising track :20 and move it to a point which will bring the tripping track :25 within the path of the tripping pin 32. such raising pin 27 remaining in such engagement with the raising track "26 until the tripping pin engages with. the tripping track 25, but before the tripping pin 32 leaves engagement. with the tripping track 25 such raising pin 27 will be withdrawn from the path of the raising track 96.

The action of the tripping pin 32 against the tripping track 25 will be such as to withdraw the prop 24 from the path of the supporting pin 23, and thus'permit the detent arm 16 to assume the position where the detent pin 19 will lie within the path of the stop pin 31. just prior to the time that such stop pin 31 arrives at the point in its travel where it may be detained by the pin 19, but before the stop pin 31 comes in contact with the pin 19' the tripping pin 32 will be withdrawn from the path of the tripping track The action of the train will be interrupted by the stop pin 31 engaging with the detent pin 19 when the first touch of the signal wheel 44 has just disengaged the projection 46 but before such tooth has disengaged the projection 49, thus leaving the jaw 47 and blade 50 in contact when the mechanism is at rest. hen the detent arm 10 was permitted to fall by the action of the prop 24, the cutout 1.06 was permitted to respond to the tension of the spring 69 and assume a position where the terminals 63 will be connected by the contact plate 65 and the terminals 64 will be disconnected from the terminals 63. Should the outside end of the hook lever 17 now be again depressed, the detent arm 16 would not be influenced as the of times one of the connecting block 14 would be withdrawn from the path of the hook lever 17, thus pre venting the box being again set into motion unless the plunger 9 is first depressed. When the outside door of the signal box is again closed the operating pin 32 will first. cause the plunger S) to cause the armature 4 to be brought within the range of the inl'luence of the magnet 3,-when the operating pin 8?) will move the cutout 107 to a position where the terminals 03 of such cutout will be connected by the contact plate 65 and the terminals 04 will be disconnected from the terminals (33, thus disconnecting the tapper 10.1 and noninterference magnet 3 from the outside circuit. Had the outside door of the signal box been closed during the action of the transmitter mechanism it is evident that it would not have prevented the closures and breaks of the jaw 47 and blade 50 from suitably affecting the outside line 113. Should there be no current flowing in the outside line 113 when the outside door of the signal box is open the armature 4 will fall away from thei magnet 3 before the out side door of the signal box has been opened a sufficient distance to permit access to the hook lever 17 and the armature 4 in falling away from the magnet 3 will move the connecting block 14 to a position out of the path of the hook lever 17.

In the operation of the motor train each revolution of the main shaft 37 moves the spring stop 40 one notch, and after the shaft 37 has revolved a predetermined number of times in a direction which will unwind the motor spring 30, and without being turned in a direction which will wind said spring, the insulated pin 41 will be carried by the movement of the spring stop 40 to a position where it will electrically connect the shunt springs 42-, thereby providing an electrical connection around the magnet 3 of such low resistance that said magnet 3 will not attract its armature even when current is flowing through the circuit 110, thus permitting the connecting block 14 to be withdrawn from the path of the hook lever 17 and thus prevent the transmitter mechanism from being set in motion should the outer end of such hook lever 17 be depressed. \Vhen however the spring 36 has been sufficiently wound to withdraw the insulated pin 41 from contact with the shunt springs 42, the armature 4 may be restored and the transmitter mechanism set in motion in the manner hereinbefore described.

Should it be desired to test the mechanism of our signal box without interrupting the flow of currentin the outside lines 113. the switch 105 should be closed, this will permit a portion of the currentfiowing in outside lines 113 to pass through line 112. resistance 104 and switch 105 without passing through the magnets and other mechan- 101 responding to each closure and break of the jaw 47 and blade 50 but the current in outside lines-113 would not be interrupted by such action as the circuit would be maintained at all times through line 112, resistance 104i and switch 105.

As the use of the signal key is well understood and forms no part of our invention we will not give same'a detailed description I but will merely mention that, inasmuch as the outside door ofthe signal box must of necessity be open when this key is being manually operated, the cutout 107 will at such times assume a position which will cause the tapper bell 101 to properly respond to the breaks and closures produced by such signal key 102.

lVhen the pawl 19 (shown in Figs. 13 and 14) is employed in the place of the detent pin 19 (shown in Fig. 5), the parts normally stand in the position shown in Fig. 13 but when, in the operation of the mechanism as hereinbefore described, movement is imparted to the detent arm 16 for the purpose of releasing the signal wheel gear 30, the friction between the engaging end of the pawl 19 and the pin 31 will cause said pawl 19 to revolve around its pivot 20 until it has assumed the position, with relation to the detent arm 16, shown by solid lines in Fig. 14, after which the continued movement of the detent arm 16 will finally disengage said pawl 19 from the stop pin 31. As soon as the pawl 19 is disengaged from the stop pin 31, the action of the spring 22 will cause said pawl 19 to assume the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 14. Should the supporting pin 23 be slightly above the supporting face of the prop 24 when the pawl 19 is disengaged from the stop pin 31, the detent arm 16 may be allowed to drop back to a position where the supporting pm 23 will be supported by the I prop 24, without bringing the pawl 19 into the path of the stop pin 31, owing to the influence of the spring 22 upon said pawl.

In using the improved form of key or knob ard shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the frangible plate 88 is inserted by first withdrawing the bolt 91 of the lock 90 from the slot 92, and then raising the frangible plate 88 through the slot 92 and between the guides 89 and the portion of the housing 86 which surrounds the opening 87 until the bottom of said frangible late has been raised above the path of he olt 91, when said bolt may be thrown out across the slot 92 and thus hold the frangible plate 88 in place. To gain access to. the knob or key 85, the frangible plate 88 may be broken in any desired manner, or said plate may be removed without being broken by any person having a key which will withdraw bolt 91 from slot 92 and thus permit the frangible plate 88 to be removed through said slot 92.

The means herein described for releasing and stopping the mechanism is not herein claimed, as the saine forms the subjectrnatter of another application filed by us, Serial Number 461,375.

The cutouts herein described are not herein claimed as the sameform the subject matter of another application filed by us, Serial Number 161,820.

We claim, I

1. In a signal box,signaling mechanism including a circuit breaker; electromagnets;

two cutouts, one of said cutouts being ar-' rangedto disconnect the electromagnets at certain times, and the other of said cutouts being so constructed and arranged that it will discomlect the circuit breaker except that at such times as said signaling mechanism may have been set in operation said cutout will keep the circuit breaker in circuit regardless of the action of the first described cutout; a circuit forming a shunt around both of said cutouts whose resistance is greater than the combined resistance of the magnets and circuit breaker; and a plug switch controllin the shunt circuit for the purpose describe 2. In a slgnal box,signaling mechanism including a circuit breaker; electromagnets; two cutouts, one of said cutouts being arranged to disconnect the electromagnets at certain times, and the other of said cutouts being so constructed and arranged that it will disconnect the circuit breaker except at such times as said signaling mechanism may have been set in operation, when said cutout will keep the circuit breaker in circuit two cutouts, one of said cutouts being arranged to disconnect the electromagnets at certain times, and the other of said cutouts being so constructed and arranged that it will disconnect the circuit breaker except that at such times as said .circuit breaker may have been set in operation said cutout will keep the circuit breaker in circuit regardless of the action of the first described cutout; in combination with a shunt circuit around said cutouts, a plug switch for closing and opening said shunt circuit, and a resistance in said shunt circuit which is sutiicient to cause enough current to flow through the electromagnets and circuit breaker to cause the magnets to be propthe circuit breaker in circuit regardless of v the action of the first described cutout; in combination with a shunt circuit around said cutouts. a plug switch for closing and opening said shunt circuit, and a resistance in said shunt circuit which is sufficient to cause enough current to .fiow through the clcctromaguets and circuit breaker to cause the audible signal to sound the signal trans mitted by the breaker when the magnets and breaker are connected to the circuit and the shunt circuit is closed.

5. A normally closed signaling circuit; electromagnetic signaling devices included in said circuit; two cutouts connected with said circuit; acircuit breaker connected with one of said cutouts, such cutout being so constructed and arranged that it will disconnect the circuit breaker except at such times as said circuit breaker may have been set in operation; electromagnets connected with the other of said cutouts and arranged to operate an audible signal; a shunt circuit around the cutouts; a plug switch for closing and opening said shunt circuit; and a resistance in said shunt circuit which is suiti- .cient to cause enough current to flow through the electromaguets and circuit breaker so that sald c1rcu1t breaker can cause the operation of the audible signal but such resistance to be sufficiently low to prevent the circuit breaker from operating the signaling devices included in the normally closed signaling circuit when the shunt circuit is closed.

6. A transmitter mechanism including,- noninterference magnets and a suitable circuit breaker; a tapper bell; a suitable door which when closed prevents access to the transmitter; an outside circuit; a cutout arranged to disconnectthe noninterference magnet and the magnet of the tapper bell from the outside circuit when the door is closed and to immediately include said magnets in said circuit when the door is opened; and another cutout so constructed and connected with the t'ansmitter'mechanism that it will connect the circuit breaker to the outside line whenever the transmitter mechanism is set in motion and disconnect said circuit breaker ust prior to or at the time the ope 'ation of the transmitter mechanism is completed, said cutouts being arranged to maintain the outside circuit at the times when it is disconnected from the devices.

7. A transmitter mechanism including, nonintcrference magnets and a suitable oil'- cuit breaker; a tapper bell; a suitable door which when closed prevents access to the transmitter; an outside circuit; a cutout arranged to disconnect the noninterference magnet and the magnet of the tapper bell from the outside circuit when the door is closed and to immediately include said magnets in said circuit when the door is open; and another cutout so constructed and connected with the transmitter mechanism that it will connect the circuit breaker to the out side circuit Whenever the transmitter mechanism is set in motion and disconnect said circuit breaker just prior to or at the time the operation of the transmitter mechanismis completed.

8. A circuit breaker forming part of a signal transmitter mechanism, a tapper bell; an outside circuit lIl which said devices may be included. a suitable door, a cutout aranged to disconnect the t apper bell from the outside circuit when the door is closed and to immediately include said bell in said circuit when the door is open and another cutout so constructed and arranged that it will connect the circuit breaker to the outside circuit whenever the signal transmitter mechanism is set in motion and disconnect said circuit breaker just prior to or at the time the operation of the transmitter mechanism is completed.

9. In a signal box,an outside door, signaling mechanism including a circuit breaker, electromagnets, and two cutouts one of which is arranged to disconnect the electromagnets from the outside circuit when the door is closed and to immediately include said magnets in said circuit when the door is opened and the other cutout so constructed and. arranged that when the circuit breaker is set in motion, said cutout will immediately connect said circuit breaker to the outside circuit and disconnect said circuit breaker after it has completed the transmission of its signal.

10. In a signal box,signaling mechanism including a circuit breaker; electromagnets; and two circuits, one of said cutouts being arranged to disconnect the electromagnets at certain times, and the other of said cutouts being so constructed and arranged that it will disconnect the circuit breaker except at such times as such circuit breaker may have been set in operation at which time said cutout will keep the circuit breaker in circuit regardless of the position of the first described cutout.

11. In a signal box,-signaling mechanism including a circuit breaker; electromagnets; and two cutouts, one of which cutouts is operated by the movement of a member of the transmitter mechanism and the other of which cutouts is controlled by the outer door of the signal box, such cutouts being provided with co-acting contacts so arranged that they may provide a shunt around the portions of the mechanism of the box they control at certain times, the cutout ope 'ated by the movement of a member of the transmitter mechanism being so constructed and arranged that when the transmitter mechanism is set in motion said cutouts will immediately break the shunt around the signaling mechanism and not renew said shunt until after the transmitter mechanism has completed the transmission of its signal.

12. In a signal box,two movable arms, a movable part provided with one or more teeth or projections arranged to suitably engage with the movable arms, a pivot upon which said arms are so mounted'as to be independently movable, a contact blade mounted upon one of said arms and a contact jaw mounted upon theother of said arms, springs connected with the arms and tending to hold them in engagement with the movable part, and such relative construction of the arms and teeth or projections of the movable part as will cause said blade and jaw to be successively brought into contact and separated as the various teeth or projections successively engage with said arms.

13. In a signal box,two movable arms, a signal wheel arranged to suitably influence said arms, a contact blade carried by one of said arms and a contact jaw carried by the other of said arm's, insulating material so applied as to prevent an electrical connection between the said blade and the said aw through the movable arms, springs connected with said arms and tending to hold them in engagement with the teeth upon the signal wheel, an electric circuit controlled by the blade and jaw, and such construction as will enable the signal wheel to cause the transmission of its signal upon the circuit by successively bringing the blade and jaw into contact and separating them.

14. In a signal box,two movable arms, a signal wheel arranged to suitably influence said arms, a pivot upon which said arms are independently mounted, a contact blade mounted upon but insulated from one of said arms and a contact jaw mounted upon but insulated from the other of said arms,

springs connected with said arms and tending to hold them in the path 01 the teeth upon the signal wheel, an electric circuit controlled by the blade and jaw, and such construction as will enable the signal wheel to cause the transmission of its signal upon the circuit by successively bringing the blade and jaw into contact and separating them.

15. In a signal box,two movable arms, a si nal wheel arranged to suitably influence sa d arms, a pivot upon which said arms are independently mounted, the jaw 47 carried by the upper arm and insulated therefrom, the blade 50 carried by the lower arm and insulated therefrom, an electric circuit controlled by the blade and jaw, and such construction as will enable the signal Wheel to cause the transmission of its signal upon .the circuit-.by successively bringing the blade and jaw into contact and separating them and so that the action of the blade and jaw will be instantaneous in both opening and closing the electric circuit.

16. In a signal box,tw0 movable arms, a signal wheel arranged to engage with said arms, a suitable pivot for said arms, the blade 50 carried at the free end of the lower arm, the jaw 47 carried at the free end of the upper arm, suitable insulating material between the jaw and blade and their respective arms, and such relative construction of the signal wheel and the portions of the arms engaging therewith that when the signal wheel is rotated the action of the arm will be instantaneous in bringing the blade and jaw-into firm contact or in separating them to the full extent of their travel regardless of the speed of the rotation of the signal wheel.

17. In a signal box,two movable arms, a signal wheel, a suitable pivot for said arms, contacts carried by said arms and controlling an electric circuit, and such relative construction of the teeth of the signal wheel and the portions of the respective arms engaging therewith that the rotation of the signal wheel will cause the contacts to be successively brought together and separated and so that all relative motion of the contacts will be instantaneous in spite of any variation in the. speed of the signal wheel.

18. In a signal box,-the combination of the arms 45 and 48 with the contact jaw 47 carried by the arm 45 and the contact blade 50 carriecl'by the arm 48 and a signal wheel arranged to suitably influence the arms 45 and 48. l

19. In a non-interference signal transmitter,the transmitter mechanism, a motor spring providing suflicient energy'to cause the transmission of a number of successive signals, a suitable stop for said motor sprin a shunt controlled by said stop, a non-interference mechanism for the signal transmitter, and electrical connections between said non-interference mechanism and said shunt 1 whereby the non-interference mechanism will be caused to render the transmitter inoperative before the motor spring is so nearly run down that it cannot properly complete another signal.

20. In a non-interference signal transmitter,the transmitter mechanism, a motor spring providing suflicient energy to cause the transmission of a number of successive signals, a shunt whereby the non-interference mechanism can be caused to render the transmitter inoperative, and electrical connections arranged to prevent or defeat the operation of the signal transmitting mechanism before the motor spring is so nearly run down that it cannot properly complete another signal.

21. In a non-interference signal transmitter,the transmitter mechanism, a motor spring providing sufficient energy to enable the transmitter mechanism to be tripped a number of times without rewinding said spring, and electrical connections arranged to prevent or defeat the operation of the signal transmitting mechanism before the motor spring is so nearly run down that it cannot properly complete another signal.

In a telegraphic signal transmitter, the transmitter mechanism, a motor spring providing suflicient energy to enable the transmitter mechanism to be tripped a number of times Without rewinding said spring, a manually operated trip for the transmitter mechanism, and electrical connections arranged to prevent or defeat the operation of the signal mechanism before the motor spring is so nearly run down that I if the signal transmitter is tri ped, it cannot properly complete its signal? 23. In a signal transmitter,thetransmitter mechanism, a motor spring providing suflicient energy to enable the transmitter mechanism to e tripped a number of times without rewinding said spring, a suitable stop for said motor spring, a shunt controlled by said stop, and electrical connections between said shunt and said transmitter mechanism which will render the transmitter inoperative if an attempt is made to trip same when the motor spring is so nearly run down that it cannot complete a signal. I

24. In combination with a signal box, a suitable lock, a knob or key by means of which said lock may be operated, a suitable housingfor the knob or key, an opening in said housing through which the knob or kcy'mav be operated, a plate of frangible materia arranged to cover said openin 4 c suitable lugs or guides for the fIZtTlglbIQ material, the slot 92 passing through one of the walls of the housing to the outside of said houslng, and the lock 90 so situated that its bolt 91 may partially obstruct the slot.

25. In combination with a signal box, a suitable lock, a knob or key by means of which said lock may be operated, a suitable housing for the knob or key, an opening in said housing through which the knob or key may be operated, a plate of frangible material arranged to cover said opening,

the slot 92 passing through one of the walls of the housing from the inside to the outside of said housing, and the lock 90 so situated that its bolt 91 may partially obstruct the slot.

26. In a ard for a knob or key, in combination with a housing for said knob or key, an opening in said housing through which the knob or key may be operated, and a plate of frangible material arranged to obstruct said op'ening,-of a slot through one of the walls of the housing through which the frangible material may be replaced or withdrawn to permit access to the knob or key, and a lock so situated with relation to said slot that the bolt of said lock may obstruct the slot so that the frangible material cannot pass by said bolt when it is extended, and so that when said bolt is withdrawn, said frangible material may be removed through the slot to permit access to the knob or key.

27. In a signal box,the signal transmitting mechanism, a tapper bell, and a non-interference magnet,in combination with two cutouts, one of which cutouts is operated by the movement of a member of the transmitter mechanism and the other of which cutouts is controlled by the outer door of the signal box, such cutouts being provided with co-acting contacts arranged to successively provide a shunt around the portion of the mechanism of the box they respectively control, and then disconnect the mechanism they control from the outside circuit by interposing an insulating material between the contacts of such cutouts communicating with the outside circuit and the contacts of such cutouts communicating with the signaling mechanism within the signal box.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses this third day of October, 1900,

HERMAN W. DOUGHTY. CLARENCE E. BEACH. \Vitnesses M. L. THOMAS, R. L. HUNTER.

from the inside 

